Hindu Vivek Kendra
A RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE PROMOTION OF HINDUTVA
   
 
 
«« Back
Christian groups carrying out conversions in state: Munde

Christian groups carrying out conversions in state: Munde

Author: Dilip Chaware
Publication: The Times of India
Date: May 15, 2000

Former deputy chief Minister Gopinath Munde has alleged that conversions were systematically being carried out by Christian organisations in Maharashtra. He has demanded a high-level police investigation into the funding of these bodies.

BJP all-India general secretary Venkaiah Naidu has found a link between installation of Sonia Gandhi as Congress president and an anti-India disinformation campaign in foreign countries, where incidents of attacks against minorities were being highlighted.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Munde said he visited Abhona in the tribal taluka of Kalwan in Nashik district on Friday in the wake of a reported attack on a Christian girls' hostel in the village recently.

He said the Abhona incident was a clash between two groups and not an attack on Christians as portrayed by the media.

Mr Munde said that the building where the clash occurred was illegal. Secondly, the power used by the building was stolen and the Maharashtra State Electricity Board had lodged a police complaint against the theft. Finally, the screening of a film on Jesus Christ was without police permission. He added that the gram panchayat had been demanding action against the illegal construction, but nothing had been done by the government.

He noted that the police FIR did not mention either the Vishwa Hindu Parishad or the Bajrang Dal. The youths arrested in connection with the clash did not belong to any political party. When he visited the village, representatives of the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena, among others, were present, while he talked to the villagers.

Mr Munde said there was an urgent need for a high-level probe into conversion activities in Maharashtra, specially with regard to the funding of the organisations concerned. Replying to a question, he said that if a Hindu organisation tried forcible conversions, he would oppose such a move.

Mr Naidu, who is here for the state convention of his party, said that a systematic disinformation campaign was being conducted by vested interests against the Vajpayee government. An impression was sought to be created that minorities were under attack in the country. The Dalits were sought to be instigated by telling them that the BJP was trying to rewrite the Constitution written by B.R. Ambedkar. Similarly, the poor and the farming community were told that the Vajpayee government had increased prices of essential items and fertilisers. He asked BJP workers to counter this campaign.
 


Back                          Top

«« Back
 
 
 
  Search Articles
 
  Special Annoucements